Cavernous angioma is a vascular disorder characterised by the formation of a cluster of low pressure capillaries that form caverns (cave-like structures) in the brain or spinal cord. Cavernous angioma may be present at birth or can form later during your life. They may be inherent or caused from high pressure in your brain over a long period of time as a result of blockages or inefficient venous drainage.
Symptoms include epileptic seizures, headache or haemorrhage (bleeding in the brain). Cavernous angioma can compress the surrounding tissues and lead to disturbances in vision, numbness, weakness and language difficulties.
Cavernous angioma lesions can be diagnosed with the help of CT and MRI scans. Once detected, the condition is treated to control seizures. If the seizures re-occur, your doctor may suggest microsurgery to remove the lesions, while considering your age, severity of the condition and your symptoms. Surgical treatment also carries the risk of internal haemorrhage which must be considered prior to surgery.
